Baby routines

I recently bought the new contented little baby book by Gina Ford. For those not familiar with it, it is series of (very strict) feeding and sleeping routines with the intended outcome that your baby will sleep through the night at an early age. Now, I love plans, lists and routines but even I find that the routine suggested very restrictive and dictator-ish, so much so that the book is now know as the little miss bossy book at our place. After a quick google search I found that most people had quite strong views about this book (and they weren’t all positive). If you are thinking of getting this book the salient points are:

1. Babies learn by association – therefore you need to put some routine around the “big” night time sleep so that bub can differentiate between it and nap time. This might include bath time and definitely includes putting bub down in his nursery.


2. Keep feeds at night very quite – avoid eye contact and don’t play with baby. Cuddles etc. are fine but they should be of the settling variety.


3. Try to keep sleeping during the day to gradually reducing hours so that the night time stretch becomes longer. Feed more during the day.

Gina offers a number of routines (and they are to the minute!) as well as some suggested solutions to common first year problems.

Isaac is a good baby and we certainly aren’t out the “pulling out our hair trying everything” stage with night time feeds. But we are trying a variant on the schedules that she suggests. Probably the hardest thing about Gina’s book is that she s one of those authors who dictate rather than suggest. She really does make you feel like you are doing the entirely the wrong thing if you go against her advice. Again I say that there is one expect on you and your baby – and it’s not Gina Ford – it’s you.

Managing Sleeping (yours!)

There are a million books (so it seems!) on getting baby to sleep but what about mummy?

My tips are:

1. Go to bed early – you don’t win any prizes for staying up late. I go to bed between 8:45pm and 9:30pm. Yes, you might feel like a 12 year old but it’s worth it. Even if you think you could not possibly be tired at that hour, try it out.


2. Get yourself into a bedtime routine – a standard time for bed and some kind of ritual, such as a shower or reading a book prior to sleep.


3. If you cannot get to sleep, try using some lavender oil on your pillow. I also find going through a relaxation routine is very helpful. Concentrate on your breathing and then move through each muscle group in your body (starting from your feet) tensing and then relaxing. Imagine a golden light coming through your body from your feet and your whole body becoming very heavy.


4. Let go of the feeling “what’s the point of sleeping when I will be up in an hour to feed?” Instead think, “I have an hour – I choose to use that hour to rest”


5. Have a nanna nap in the afternoon between feeds.


6. Babies make all sorts of snuffly sounds as they sleep – don’t strain to hear those sounds (particularly after a feed). Instead train yourself to sleep through these – if your baby genuinely needs you their cry will wake you.


7. Aim to have at least one hour to yourself each day where you concentrate on you. Try not to be thinking about the baby, the house work or the list of things to do. During that hour or so, be selfish, live in that moment and think only of yourself. This might mean a bath, reading a book or watching a DVD - whatever you find relaxing. A refreshed mother makes for a happier baby so don’t feel guilty about thinking of yourself for a little while.